Poll: Californians back global warming fight

Gov. Jerry Brown and lawmakers adopted a 2013-14 state budget that borrows those funds for other purposes, with the condition that they be immediately be repaid if needed sooner for clean-energy projects.

The poll did not gauge voters on whether they support the funding shift. However, 36 percent said the money should go to clean-energy, 32 percent said to transportation and housing, and 23 percent to natural resources and waste management programs.

But just 45 percent of adults say they have heard “a lot” or “a little” about the cap-and-trade issue. Fifty-four percent said they know “nothing at all” about it.

The public is more aware of global warming in general and supports the state’s push to curb emissions, Baldassare said.

The survey found that 49 percent Republicans support AB 32, the greenhouse gas law, compared to 39 percent in 2010. Democrats came in at 77 percent in favor. On the jobs question, 74 percent of Democrats said programs and regulations to reduce global warming would create jobs or have no impact. Sixty-percent of Republicans agreed with that.

In other related responses:

• 65 percent say steps should be taken “right away” to counter the effects of global warming rather than waiting for the economy and jobs outlook to brighten.

• 77 percent say global warming is a “very serious” or “somewhat serious” threat to the state’s economy and quality of life.

• 76 percent said local governments should require more energy efficiency in residential and commercial buildings to reduce the burning of fossil fuels that contribute to the problem.

• 76 percent support encouraging local governments to change land use and transportation priorities in ways that could lead to less driving, thus reducing tailpipe emissions.

• 53 percent say the federal government is not doing enough to combat global warming.

Some experts say global warming will disrupt normal climatic patterns, potentially leading to short intense storms followed by longer dry spells. That, in turn, could fuel more intense firestorms.

Of those polled, 57 percent worry most about severe wildfires, 49 percent are concerned about drought and 28 percent fear floods.

Californians are not as enthusiastic over how Brown and the Democrat-dominated Legislature have addressed environmental issues. Thirty-nine percent think Brown is handling the environmental challenges well.

“Brown as governor has been relatively quiet on environmental issues,” Baldassare said. “A lot of people don’t have a sense of what his plans are in that area.”

Brown is not alone. Thirty-eight percent gave state lawmakers a positive rating on the environment. President Barack Obama received a 53 percent approval rating on the environment; Congress received 29 percent.

Other key responses: 63 percent oppose new nuclear plants in the aftermath of the shutdown of San Onofre and 54 percent are against more offshore oil drilling.